Bayan Beleq (The ancient mosque)

If you are in Lombok Island, you have to visit Bayan village which is a primitive village located in the north part of Lombok regency. Besides being known as the primitif village and residents who still adhered to animist belief system / Waktu Telu, in this village there is also a clear evidence of trail historical relics spread of Islam in Lombok Island, which can be seen from the Old Mosque of Bayan Beleq. The ancient mosque of Bayan Beleq is situated in the district of Northern part of Lombok. Bayan precisely located on the border between North Lombok and East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Bayan area located away from the city center, or about 80 km from Mataram.

The ancient mosque of Bayan Beleq has very unique architecture, the size of the mosque is quite small, only 9x9 meters with walls of woven bamboo and comes repose of hardened clay and covered with woven bamboo mats. The roof was made from bamboo slats and the mosque foundation made from the stone without cement.

The construction of the ancient mosque of Bayan Beleq has philosophical meaning consisting of head, body and legs which describes the world over, the middle world and the underworld which is a unity in the cosmos public entity in North Lombok. This mosque was founded about 300 years ago, but the history of who set up the mosque is still confusing, There are many opinions that appears, some of which assume that the mosque was built by Sunan Giri, Sunan Prapen and some mentions a prince who was buried in the mosque complex. However, the uniqueness of this mosque building will not let you down for a visit.

The name of the mosque was taken from the Sasak language which is "Beleq" which means "Great Tomb". In this complex area there are a number of tombs including the tomb of Abdul Rozak Gaus who believed to be the first Muslim missionaries in the region. There is also a small hut next to the right rear and left front of the mosque is the tomb of the religious leaders intervene in the development and care of the mosque from the beginning.

The tourists who will visit the ancient mosque of Bayan Beleq must follow the rules that have been set by the administrator, visitor should use the Sasak traditional dresses like dodot and sapuk. The mosque complex is visited by many tourists during the celebration of the birthday of  Prophet Muhammad.